FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2006
Media Contact: Michael Corby
904.632.3310

Florida Community College/Jacksonville awarded $774,993 in SUCCEED Florida! Grants for career education
Critical need professions of nursing, teaching share nearly $440,000

Florida Community College/Jacksonville learned yesterday they were the recipient of six grants totaling $774,993 awarded through the state’s SUCCEED Florida! Career Education Grants. Funded by the Florida Legislature and awarded by the Florida Department of Education, SUCCEED Florida! Grants support new and expanding programs in the fields of nursing/allied health, manufacturing, automotive technology and teacher certification—areas designated for statewide economic development by enterprise Florida and Workforce Florida.

A Nursing Program Expansion grant for $226,259 was FCCJ’s largest award. The expansion of the College’s Nursing program to the Deerwood Center on Jacksonville’s Southside for night and weekend classes will make the program more accessible to students not living near North Campus where the Nursing program is based.

Two Teacher Certification grants were awarded to the College. A new $168,000 grant will provide for expansion of the Teach First Coast Alternative Certification program through Duval and Nassau counties. It will also provide for the development of an online version of Teach First Coast, among other features. A $46,717 continuation grant extends the existing program at the Downtown Campus, providing an accelerated path to certification for aspiring teachers who have a bachelor’s degree but lack teaching credentials.

A Jobs for Florida’s Future grant for $197,579 is a continuation grant that will expand Computer Network Technology programs at the College. It will also provide for the purchase of equipment, the training of faculty and aid in the development of online course materials.

Pathways Academy, Florida Community College’s new charter school that targets high-school dropouts garnered two grants of $68,219 each, for the career fields of information technology and transportation. The IT grant will provide computers and technology equipment for hands-on training and the transportation grant will provide equipment for automotive technology students.

Florida’s Workforce Education programs, supported by the SUCCEED Florida! Grants Program, offer specialized instruction to help students achieve their goals. For more information about SUCCEED Florida! grants and the institutions receiving awards, see the following Department of Education documents online: http://www.firn.edu/doe/workforce/pdf/succeed_summary.pdf and http://www.firn.edu/doe/workforce/pdf/succeed_awards.pdf.